The Hero's Daughter

Every Waking Moment

As the sun sets over New York City, casting an orange glow through the window of my hotel room, I lie wide awake in bed. The city hums with life outside, but all I can think about is Charlie. It’s maddening. I’m supposed to be focused on my training, but instead, my mind keeps drifting back to her—her laughter, her sarcasm, the way she challenges me without a hint of fear.

“Damn it,” I mutter to myself, running a hand through my spiky hair. I flip over, trying to find a comfortable position, but it’s no use. Every time I close my eyes, I see her bright gray-blue eyes sparkling with mischief, that annoying piece of hair falling out of place as she talks animatedly about some random topic. It’s infuriating how much I miss her, how much I want to be near her.

I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “Get it together, Katsuki,” I tell myself, but the words fall flat. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s somehow wormed her way into my thoughts, and it makes me want to explode. It’s ridiculous. I’m not supposed to feel this way about anyone, especially not some quirkless girl who seems to have the uncanny ability to get under my skin.

Every morning, I wake up with the remnants of our conversations playing in my head. The way she teased me about my grumpiness, how she challenged me to lighten up. It’s like she’s a walking contradiction, and I can’t figure out how to deal with it. I’ve always been the one to push people away, to keep them at a distance, but with her, it’s different. She makes me want to let her in, and that thought terrifies me.

“Why the hell can’t I just forget about her?” I grumble, sitting up in bed and running a hand over my face. I know I should be training, should be thinking about how to become the best hero. But instead, I’m stuck here, replaying moments from our time together. The way she laughed at my explosions, the way she stood her ground when I snapped at her. It’s infuriatingly charming.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, letting my feet hit the cold floor. “I need to clear my head,” I decide, pushing myself up and heading for the door. I need to get out, away from these thoughts that are driving me crazy.

As I step out into the bustling streets, the sounds of the city envelop me. The honking of taxis, the chatter of tourists, and the smell of street food fill the air, but none of it can distract me from the fact that I’m still thinking about Charlie. It’s like she’s a shadow following me around, and I can’t shake her off.

I walk aimlessly, my mind racing. “I’m not some lovesick i***t,” I tell myself, but the words ring hollow. I can’t deny that I miss her energy, the way she seemed to light up the room just by being in it. It’s absurd. I’m Katsuki Bakugo, the explosive hero in training, not some lovestruck fool.

But as I wander through the city, I can’t help but remember our moments together—the way she looked when she was excited, how she’d call me out on my bullshit without a second thought. It’s infuriating how much I admire her guts, how she doesn’t back down even when I’m being a total jerk.

“Ugh, this is so stupid,” I mutter, kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk. I’m supposed to be focused on becoming the best hero, not pining after a girl who doesn’t even have a quirk. But the more I try to push those thoughts away, the stronger they become.

I stop in front of a small café, the smell of coffee wafting through the air. Maybe a caffeine boost will help clear my head. I step inside, ordering a black coffee, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in my chest. But as I sit down at a small table, staring out at the bustling street, I can’t shake the thought of Charlie.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” I whisper to myself, running a hand through my hair again. I take a sip of my coffee, the bitter taste grounding me momentarily, but it doesn’t last.

I remember the way she laughed when I snapped at Deku, how she called me out for being a jerk. It’s like she can see right through me, and it’s both infuriating and refreshing. No one else has ever dared to challenge me like that, and it makes me feel… alive.

I finish my coffee, the cup empty but my thoughts still swirling. I need to figure this out. I can’t let her get to me like this. I’m supposed to be focused on my training, on proving I’m the best. But every time I try to push her out of my mind, she just comes rushing back in, a whirlwind of chaos and energy that I can’t escape.

As I step back out into the street, I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of longing. “I’ll just ignore it,” I tell myself, but deep down, I know it’s not that simple. I can’t ignore the way she makes me feel, the way she challenges me to be better.

I walk through the city, the sun beginning to set, casting a warm glow over everything. “Maybe I’m just overthinking this,” I mutter, but it doesn’t feel true. I know I like her—there’s no denying that. But admitting it? That’s a whole different story.

As I make my way back to the hotel, I can’t help but wonder what she’s doing right now. Is she out exploring the city, laughing at some silly street performer? Or is she thinking about me? The thought sends a jolt through me, and I shake my head, trying to dismiss it.

“Get it together, Katsuki,” I mutter under my breath. I’m not going to let her distract me. I’m here to train, to become the best hero I can be. But as I lie back in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, Charlie is exactly what I need in my life. And that thought terrifies me more than anything else.